March 23rd, 2013 - 13 weeks pregnant
"Jack, can you come here for a minute?"
Jack ran into the living room hearing his father's call. They had brought Hotch home from the hospital that morning. Hotch was sitting on the couch with Beth next to him.
"Hey buddy, we wanted to talk to you about something."
"Did I do something wrong?" Jack looked worried.
"No not at all buddy, we actually have good news for you." Hotch looked at Beth before continuing. "Well buddy, here's the thing. Beth and I… we're going to have a baby."
"A baby?" Jack now just looked confused.
"Yeah bud. Beth is pregnant with your baby brother or sister. You're going to be a big brother! What do you think?"
"Beth doesn't look like she's pregnant," Jack still confused.
"Well Jack that's because the baby is still really small," Beth told him. "But as the baby gets bigger so will my belly. And then I'll look pregnant and we'll be able to feel and see the baby move in my belly until it's ready to come out."
"How long until the baby is ready to come out?"
"A while Jack. The baby won't come until after summer is done," his father answered him.
"When I'm 8 and in 3rd grade? That's when the baby will come?"
"That's right. So how do you feel about this? About being a big brother?" His father asked him again.
"I think it will be really cool! Babies are pretty fun and I'll be able to teach the baby how to build legos and read books and all sorts of cool things!"
Beth laughed "Well you might have to wait until the baby is a little order before he or she is ready for legos but I think this baby is going to be so lucky to have you as a big brother."
"Can I go back to my room and play now, Dad?"
"Soon buddy, there's one other thing we wanted to talk to you about." Jack just looked at his dad while he waited for him to continue. "Well buddy our home is the perfect size for you and me but with the baby coming Beth is going to move back to DC from New York and she's going to live with us."
"She is!" Jack yelled excitedly"
"She is!" Hotch smiled at his son. "And when the baby comes they'll be living here too. So we are going to find a bigger house for all four of us to live in."
Jack's face fell a bit. "But I like living here."
"I know you do, buddy. But I promise you'll like the new house too. We're going to stay close, you won't have to change schools. And we'll find a house with a yard! So you can practice soccer in the backyard whenever you want, not just when we go to the park."
"I guess that would be kind of cool."
"Beth and I found a house we really think you're going to like Jack. Do you want to go see it with us once I'm feeling a little bit better?"
"Yeah!" Hotch was glad his son was excited but the truth was they really couldn't back out even if Jack didn't like the house. The owners had accepted their offer and they were closing on the house. Soon he and Beth would be homeowners. Together. "You can go back to your room and play now if you want."
Jack ran up to his dad and gave him a hug. Then he gave Beth a hug. "I'm really really happy I get to be a big brother," he told her.
"I'm really really happy too Jack," Beth held on tight to the little boy and kissed the top of his head.
Jack ran off back to his room to play and Beth gently leaned into Hotch's side. She kissed his temple. There were many more people to tell about the pregnancy, but at the end of the day his opinion was the only one that mattered and he was happy so she was happy too.
March 30th, 2013 - 14 weeks pregnant
"You're sure you feel up to going out tonight?" Beth asked him from the bathroom. She was finishing applying her makeup. They were supposed to go out and meet the rest of the team for drinks. Hotch joined her in the bathroom and watched her as she finished getting ready.
"Beth, I feel fine. I promise you." Slowly but surely over the course of the past week Hotch had been on his feet more and more.
"Well you let me know when you want to leave, okay? I don't want you to push yourself too hard and set your recovery back."
Hotch kissed her cheek. "I appreciate you worrying about me, you ready?"
Beth nodded and Hotch called to Jack letting him know it was time to go. They piled in the car and drove to Jessica's house to drop off Jack for the night. They had told Jessica the news when she had dropped off food for them after Hotch had come home from the hospital. She had taken it really well and had only expressed sadness that with Hotch and Beth living together she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Jack. They were relieved and had promised her that they still wanted her to be a big part of Jack's life.
"A night out will be fun," Beth glanced over at him from the driver's seat. It was a rare time that Hotch had let her drive, he wasn't taking narcotics for pain anymore but she was DD'ing and he had given up some of his usual control this past week. Hotch had spent most of the week on the couch at Beth's insistence while she had started packing up his apartment. Hotch was set to go back to work on the 7th of April and move in day for their new house was the 12th. There was still a lot of packing to be done, Beth still had to go back to NYC to pack up her apartment in Manhattan, but for tonight they were going to enjoy being out with the members of his team.
Beth pulled into the parking lot of the brewery and they hopped out of the car. Hotch took Beth's hand and they walked in together. They were the last to arrive and the team excitedly waved them over to the table.
"Good to see you back on your feet, man!" Derek exclaimed, giving Hotch a handshake. Garcia gave a hug and reminded him of how worried she'd been. Rossi have him a pat on the back, Spencer nodded at him signifying he was happy to see him. Beth got hugs from nearly everyone and settled in at the table in between Hotch and Emily.
"First round is on me!" Rossi told the table and everyone cheered. Hotch ordered a stout and Beth stuck with water. The table got their drinks and Hotch announced "I want to make a toast."
Everyone raised their glasses and looked at their unit chief. "I want to thank everyone for their grace during this past week and the week going forward as I take time off from work to heal. The texts of encouragement, the meals brought to us, everything was so appreciated. Beth, Jack, and I truly thank you guys. I am so grateful that Jack and our new baby will grow up with you all in their lives. So cheers!"
Hotch watched the realization dawn on all of their faces as they processed the information that he told them. Spencer was the first to speak up.
"You and Beth are having a baby?" He asked looking happy for them.
Beth smiled and answered "we are!"
The table erupted with cheers. Clearly the team was very happy for their boss. Hugs and congratulations were given to the couple.
"How far along are you?" JJ asked her.
"A few days past 15 weeks."
"Ah good you survived your first trimester! Well I have tons of maternity clothes and pregnancy books that you're more than welcome to borrow if you would like."
"Thank you so much!" Beth smiled at her grateful for their support.
The night passed with ease and laughter. Spencer informed them of what was going on during the 15th week of pregnancy and Beth was amazed at how much her baby was already formed. The team offered to help them unpack their new house which they graciously accepted. Derek and Garcia continued their flirtatious banter. Beth asked JJ questions about her pregnancy and what recommendations she had. Emily asked her about her employment plans now that she was back in DC. Beth was happy to report that her old job had jumped at the chance to offer her a promotion when they heard she was going to be moving back. Overall the night went quickly and Beth was glad they had come. She smiled as she watched Hotch laugh and talk with the team. He had ordered several beers at this point in the night and Beth could tell he was starting to get quite the buzz based on his flushed face and his arms gesticulating wildly as he conversed. Beth felt fortunate that she got to see relaxed Hotch more than the average person but even this was new territory for him.
"Well we should probably go," JJ said as she and Will stood up. "We told the sitter we'd be home before midnight and we're cutting it a bit close."
Beth looked at her watch and saw it was already past 11:45. The night really had flown and she was tired. Aaron put his arm around her shoulders and asked "You ready to go, babe?"
Beth smiled, he so rarely used terms of endearment. "Sure," they stood up and Aaron helped her put on her coat. They said goodbye to the team and walked out to their car.
"How are you feeling?" Beth asked Hotch as she drove home.
"I probably had one too many beers but I'll sleep it off and be fine."
Beth laughed "I meant your stitches, weirdo."
"Ahh they're sore from laughing but I think the extra beer is helping mask the discomfort," Hotch laughed back. "I'll take some motrin and tylenol when we get home."
"That sounds like a good plan."
Hotch reached his arm out and placed it at the nape of her neck, rubbing his fingers in her hairline. "I love you," he said to her.
Beth smiled and took his hand from the back of her neck and brought it to her lips. "I love you too, but you need to keep your hands to yourself when I'm driving. I'm much more easily distracted than you."
"Noted."
At home Beth went to the bathroom to start getting ready for bed. It was midnight and she was exhausted. She was drying her face with a towel when she felt Hotch behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. He buried his face into the space between her shoulder and her neck and left kisses there.
Beth moaned and Hotch took that as encouragement to keep going. He slipped his hands under her sweater and ran them up to her breasts and palmed them through her bra. He grinded himself into her round ass and then he was the one moaning.
"Aaron. It's after midnight and I'm exhausted. And you're only a week post-op from major abdominal surgery. You're not cleared for anything until you go back to the doctor."
"Don't worry, baby. What I'm planning doesn't require any exertion from either of us." As Hotch talked he unzipped and removed her jeans and pulled the sweater over her head. "Go put one of my shirts on to sleep in and I'll meet you in bed."
Beth looked at him suspiciously but ultimately did what he said. He joined her in the bed and restarted kissing her neck. He didn't stay there long before he started moving down her chest. He pulled his shirt up so he could kiss the bare skin of her belly. At 14 weeks there was barely a bump, sometimes not even noticeable, but tonight under his lips he could feel the stretched skin. He continued his path down and settled in between her thighs. He put both of his hands on the insides of her thighs above the knees to push her legs out, butterflying them and giving him easy access. After a few exploratory licks Hotch settled on her clit. Sucking it between his lips and rubbing it with his tongue.
"Oh my god Aaron," Beth started to groan loudly.
Hotch knew that she wouldn't last long if he didn't ease up but he didn't want her to last. He wanted her to come hard and fast and then he wanted them to fall asleep in each others arms.
"Aaron, oh god, Aaron don't stop." Beth started to try and shift her hips but Hotch held her steady under him. He continued his assault on her clit and added two fingers inside of her flexing them against her g-spot. Beth nearly screamed. He felt her contract around his fingers and he slowly stopped what he was doing giving her time to ride out the orgasm.
"You're amazing," Beth said breathlessly and Aaron rejoined her at the head of the bed. He kissed her deeply. It turned him on to think about Beth tasting herself on his lips. "Go to sleep."
Beth didn't argue with him. She settled in against his side and rested her arm across his chest, careful to avoid the healing incisions below, and in minutes sleep got the better of her.
Hotch admired the sleeping woman beside him and then drifted off to sleep himself.
